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The document discusses soil erosion, its causes, effects, and prevention methods. It notes that soil erosion is the process by which soil particles are loosened and washed away by water, wind, or other forces. Some key causes of soil erosion are rainfall and flooding, agriculture, grazing, logging and mining, construction, rivers and streams, and heavy winds. Major effects of soil erosion include the loss of arable land, clogging of waterways, air pollution, desertification, and destruction of infrastructure. Prevention methods mentioned include planting trees, adding mulch and rocks, using mulch matting, and constructing barriers like fibre logs and walls.

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Naman Sharma
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110 views

Interview

The document discusses soil erosion, its causes, effects, and prevention methods. It notes that soil erosion is the process by which soil particles are loosened and washed away by water, wind, or other forces. Some key causes of soil erosion are rainfall and flooding, agriculture, grazing, logging and mining, construction, rivers and streams, and heavy winds. Major effects of soil erosion include the loss of arable land, clogging of waterways, air pollution, desertification, and destruction of infrastructure. Prevention methods mentioned include planting trees, adding mulch and rocks, using mulch matting, and constructing barriers like fibre logs and walls.

Uploaded by

Naman Sharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Interviewed my BROTHER

and
me SUJAL KUMAR
On
Soil Erosion
Report
26 NOV 2022 By-SUJAL
Soil Erosion
In this process, the soil particles are loosened or
washed away in the valleys, oceans, rivers,
streams or far away lands. This has been
worsening due to human activities such as
agriculture and deforestation.
Soil erosion is a continuous process that occurs
either slowly or at an alarming rate. It results in
a continuous loss of topsoil, ecological
degradation, soil collapse, etc.
Let us have a detailed look at the causes, effects
and prevention of soil erosion.
Cause of Soil Erosion
Following are the important causes of soil
erosion:
Rainfall and Flooding
Higher intensity of rainstorms is the main cause
of soil erosion. Four types of soil erosion are
caused by rainfall:
•Rill erosion
•Gully erosion
•Sheet erosion
•Splash erosion
•The raindrops disperse the soil, which is then
washed away into the nearby streams and
rivers. Regions with very heavy and frequent
rainfall face a large amount of soil loss. The
flowing water during floods also erodes a lot of
soil by creating potholes, rock-cut basins, etc.

Agriculture
The farming practices are the major cause of
soil erosion. The agricultural activities disturb
the ground. The trees are cleared and the land
is ploughed to sow new seeds.
Since most of the crops are grown during the
spring season, the land lies fallow during
winters. Most of the soil is eroded during
winters.
Also, the tyres of tractors make grooves on
the land, making a natural pathway for water.
Fine soil particles are eroded by wind.

Grazing
The grazing animals feed on the grasses and
remove the vegetation from the land. Their
hooves churn up the soil. They also pull out
plants by their roots. This loosens the soil
and makes it more prone to erosion.

Logging and Mining


A large number of trees are cut down to
carry out the logging process. Trees hold the
soil firmly. The canopy of the trees protects
the soil from heavy rainfall.
Logging and Mining
The leaf litter that protects the soil from
erosion, is also lost during logging.
Mining activities also disturb the land and
leave the soil more prone to erosion.

Construction
The construction of roads and buildings
exposes the soil to erosion. The forests and
grasslands are cleared for construction
purposes, which exposes the soil making it
vulnerable to erosion.
Rivers and Streams
The flowing rivers and streams carry away the
soil particles leading to a V-shaped erosion
activity.
Heavy Winds
During dry weather or in the semi-arid regions,
the minute soil particles are carried away by
the wind to faraway lands. This degrades the
soil and results in desertification.

Effects of Soil Erosion


The major effects of soil erosion include:

Loss of Arable Land


Soil erosion removes the top fertile layer of the
soil. This layer is rich in the essential nutrients
required by the plants and the soil. The
degraded soil does not support crop
production and leads to low crop productivity.
Clogging of Waterways
The agricultural soil contains pesticides, insecticides,
fertilizers, and several other chemicals. This pollutes
the water bodies where the soil flows.
The sediments accumulate in the water and raise the
water levels resulting in flooding.
Air Pollution
The dust particles merge in the air, resulting in air
pollution. Some of the toxic substances such as
pesticides and petroleum can be extremely hazardous
when inhaled. The dust plumes from the arid and semi-
arid regions cause widespread pollution when the
winds move.

Desertification
Soil erosion is a major factor for desertification. It
transforms the habitable regions into deserts.
Deforestation and destructive use of land worsens the
situation. This also leads to loss of biodiversity,
degradation of the soil, and alteration in the
ecosystem.
Destruction of Infrastructure
The accumulation of soil sediments in dams
and along the banks can reduce their
efficiency. Thus, it affects infrastructural
projects such as dams, embankments, and
drainage.
Soil Erosion Prevention
Soil erosion is a serious environmental issue.
Steps should be taken to curb this problem.
Following are some of the methods of soil
erosion prevention:
1. Plant trees on barren lands to limit
erosion of soil.
2. Add mulch and rocks to prevent the
plants and grass underneath to prevent
soil erosion.
3. Mulch matting can be used to reduce
erosion on slopes.
4. Put a series of fibre logs to prevent any
water or soil from washing away.
5. A wall at the base of the slope can help in
preventing the soil from eroding.
6. A wall at the base of the slope can help in
preventing the soil from eroding.

Key Points of Soil Erosion


•It is the natural process of wearing away
topsoil, but human activities have accelerated
the process.
•It is usually caused due to the removal of
vegetation, or any activity that renders the
ground dry.
•Farming, grazing, mining, construction and
recreational activities are some of the causes of
soil erosion.
•Farming, grazing, mining, construction and
recreational activities are some of the causes of
soil erosion.
•Degraded lands lose the water holding
capacity resulting in floods.
The health of the soil is of utmost importance
to the farmers and the population that
depends upon agriculture for food and
employment. There are several challenges to
resist soil erosion, but there are solutions to
prevent it as well.

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